Cassidy was involved in a serious car accident on Wednesday night in New Jersey.

The rapper was a passenger in an SUV en route to a studio in Yonkers, New York, when a U-Haul truck swerved into oncoming traffic and struck the SUV. The truck

crashed into the side of the vehicle that Cassidy was sitting in, according to a J Records spokesperson and members of Cassidy's camp.

Cassidy was rushed to the hospital, suffering a fractured skull. A large number of bones in the left side of his face were also broken, according to his people. Cassidy is in critical condition, is said to be breathing on his own and is undergoing a CAT scan. None of the four other passengers in the vehicle were injured.

Swizz Beatz, currently in Los Angeles, talked about the accident on radio station Power 106 on Thursday (October 5), asking listeners to pray for his friend and collaborator. Cassidy has been working on his third album for Swizz's Full Surface label, which is affiliated with J Records, for the past several months.

The rapper was released from prison in March after serving eight months. He had been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and other charges stemming from the 2005 shooting death of Desmond Hawkins (see "Cassidy Released From Jail After Serving Eight Months").

MTV News will have more on this story as further details become available.

— Shaheem Reid

On the radio they said Cassidy is not expected to make it tonight. I hope he beats the odds.

you guys are such tools. hasn't Ced proven nothing he says is to be taken seriously? he just wants your attention.

I think you're taling about yourself. I was not craving attention, I just wanted to point out that rappers are trash, and once they all get phased out the world will be a better place. Rap rock and emo can piss off as well.